Process of rendering sawdust absorbent.



IINITBU BTATIEB BATENT GI I ICE.

VICTOR RAISIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO LA SOCILZTE COMPAGNIEINDUSTRIELLE DES ALCOOLS DE LARDECI-IE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

PROCESS OF RENDEBING SAWIDUST ABSOR-BENT.

No Drawing.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vio'ron RAIsIN, a citizen of the Republic of France,and resident of Paris, France, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Processes of Rendering Sawdust Absorbent, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to a process for the treatment of saw dust andsimilar materials, for the purpose of converting them into absorbentproducts which, on being mixed with viscous materials, render them easyto manipulate and suitable for receiving a chemical treatment. Forexample, a forage from molasses may be produced by mixing 25 parts ofthe absorbent product with 65 parts of molasses. This mixture will beimmediately ready for use if the molasses contains, as is usually thecase, 40 to per cent. of sugar. Evidently in the place of the molassesit is possible to substitute the wash-waters of distilleries and obtainproducts from which certain elements might be extracted with suitablesolvents.

This process c0nsistsl. In submitting the saw dust or similar materialto the action of surfuric acid, for instance, suitably diluted. 2. Ineliminating the water contained in the mixture by evaporation, or insome other way. 3. In heating, and then 41-. In stopping the action ofthe acid on the saw dust or similar material, which action takes placeduring the heating.

The process could be carried out for instance in the following mannerwhen it is question of treating saw dust. The saw dust to be treated, ismixed with a certain quantity of acidulated water, the quantity of acidbeing about 2 to 45% of the weight of the saw dust to be treated. Themixture is heated in a closed vessel or in the open air to a temperatureof 7580 C. At first water contained in the mixture is evaporated withoutany perceptible chemical reaction. Then, when nearly the whole of thewater has been evaporated, the acid at the above mentioned temperatureenergetically attacks the saw dust, and other Specification of LettersPatent. Patented July 25, 1911. Application filed May 19, 1909.

Serial No. 497,106.

acids are formed (namely acetic acid). 011 cooling the saw dust in orderto stop the reaction, an absorbent product is obtained which can bemixed with viscous matters in order to render them easy to manipulate.Generally speaking, the mixture is cooled, that is to say, the reactionof the acid on wood interrupted on the mass assuming a brown colorsimilar to that of roasted coffee, which color varies according to thekind of wood and of the materials treated. The product thus obtained, inaddition to all the advantages of the ordinary absorbents, has also thatof being cheap to manufacture.

Instead of stopping the reaction of the acid on the saw dust by coolingthe mass, the reaction could be stopped by washing the product so as toeliminate the acid. It is then dried for use after, of course, thewashing water has been removed.

By increasing the proportion of acid mixed with the water, thetemperature and the time of the reaction could be reduced. The source ofheat used can be any desired, and the heating can be carried out eitherin a closed vessel or in the open air. If the duration of the action ofheat is increased, the temperature being maintained at be tween 75 and80 C. the saw dust is converted into a charcoal of great density. Thesame result can be obtained at a lower temperature than 75-80 C. byincreasing the proportion of the acid. By increasing the temperature ofthe treatment to, for instance, 9O100 (3., and by keeping the sameproportion of acid, a quicker conversion into charcoal is brought about.

Generally speaking, when the heating is continued for a long time orsuiiiciently great heat is used, without the temperature reaching thatat which saw dust becomes converted into charcoal without the additionof any reagent, the saw dust is converted into charcoal.

Claim.

The process herein described of producing an absorbent of viscousmaterials, which consists in mixing a quantity of sawdust with 2 to 4%of its weight of sulfuric acid and approximately 20% of its Weight Intestimony whereof I have signed this of Water, heating the mlxture to atemperaspeclficatlon 1n the presence 01" two subture of 75 to 80 degreesCentigrade, contlnuseriblng Witnesses.

ing the application of heatat said tempera- VICTOR RAISIN. ture untilnearly the Whole of the Water it-messes:

is evaporated, stopping the reactions With- EMILE LEDRET,

in the mass, and drying the mass for use. DEAN B. MASON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

